Thursday, September 28, 2006

New federal law may pass TOMORROW that labels peaceful activism as "terrorism!"

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) is pending in Congress (HR 4239). Industry groups are pushing it through quickly and with little public scrutiny (fast-tracking it like the Patriot Act... first through the House of Reps, then through the Senate) before the Fall recess.They plan to vote on this tomorrow, Friday, September 29 in the House.

This is the most important call yet because it affects our ability to help ALL animals!

We need to flood the lines with calls in opposition now!

Call the numbers below and tell them where you live to be connected to your local reps. Even if you are under 18 please call, you will be voting soon and they need to hear from all of us!• Contact your House Reps now at 202-224-3121 to urge them to oppose HR 4239.• Contact your Senators now at 202-224-3121 to urge them to oppose S 3880 (was S 1926).• Contact co-sponsors Senators Inhof & Feinstein at 202-224-3121 to oppose S 3880.• Forward this message to friends & social advocacy groups.

• AETA labels the tactics of Martin Luther King and Gandhi as “terrorism.” It spells out penalties for “an offense involving exclusively a nonviolent physical obstruction of an animal enterprise or a business having a connection to, or relationship with, an animal enterprise, that may result in loss of profits but does not result in bodily injury….” In other words any act that causes a loss of profits to animal-exploiting industries (like a reduction in meat consumption) can be treated as terrorism.• AETA risks the prosecution of undercover investigators, whistle-blowers and other activists as “terrorists.” It defines “economic damage” as including “the loss of profits.” The extremely vague and broad sweeping language puts all animal advocates at risk. Causing the loss of profits is NOT terrorism. It’s effective activism. And even activists that are not prosecuted under the law will be affected by the extreme rhetoric.• AETA is unnecessary. There are already laws to protect industries against illegal actions, regardless of who commits the acts.All Americans should be concerned about this gross infringement on the first amendment. The term terrorism should not be used against peaceful social justice advocacy.

Break the Chains.info

is a news and discussion forum for supporters of political prisoners, prisoners of war, politicized social prisoners, and victims of police and state intimidation.

This blog is organized and updated autonomously of the disbanded Break the Chains Prisoner Support Network formerly based in Eugene, Oregon. While this online project shares several of the same concerns as the old Break the Chains collective, no formal organization exists behind the current web presence.

"I will never surrender my pride and dignity nor allow the system to 'cut my tongue' and I will always, without fear, speak out against these war crimes and crimes against humanity, no matter if I spend the rest of my life in a prison cage, and draw my last breath of air laying down in this steel bed surrounded by razor-wire fences and cages, and its prison policies that are designed to destroy one's humanity…."